Taped products processor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for processing products aligned on a tape. In the present embodiment, the products are shown to be heat recoverable sleeves which are conveyed to a control station for insertion of a terminal. The work is then released from the control station and allowed to pass across a heater which recovers the sleeve about the terminal. To accomplish the above, a drive having a friction coupling and a positive coupling are employed to convey the work through the apparatus. A conditioned atmosphere process apparatus is employed for the heating of the sleeves and a controlled product feed apparatus controls the feeding of the work to the control station.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 721,700, filed Sept. 9, 1976now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a mechanism for processing tapedproducts. Included with the mechanism are a work drive having a frictioncoupling and a positive coupling, a conditioned atmosphere processapparatus for directing a conditioned atmosphere to the work passingalong a product path therethrough, and a controlled product feedapparatus for feeding work to a control station.

Electrical and electronic equipment have experienced substantialincreases in complexity and number of components for some period oftime. The total output and the variety of output of such equipment havealso been increasing. With civilization's ever increasing need for moreand more complex electrical and electronic equipment, certain devicesand processes have been developed in an effort to increase productionand reduce the cost thereof. This is equally true of the hydraulics andpneumatics industries as well. For example, mass production techniquesand standardized components have been employed wherever possible. Withthe employment of such mass production techniques and products, the unitcost of the final product can often be reduced and the number ofproducts reduced can be increased.

In achieving economic production of electrical, electronic, hydraulicand pneumatic control equipment, it has been found advantageous toprovide component parts on a tape by lightly bonding the components tothe tape. The tape may then be positioned on a mechanism which canprovide components one at a time for assembly. However, a great deal ofcomponent manipulation must still be accomplished by hand. Such manualwork has been required because of the operator's inability to work at afixed, unvarying rate and because it is often desirable or necessary toindividually match specific lines, leads or other elements with certaincomponents positioned on the tape. Thus, a large number of operationsremain which are accomplished manually because of the foregoingproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a mechanism for processing productspre-loaded on a tape. By the present apparatus, the taped products maybe completely assembled with other components without requiring anymanipulation of the taped products by hand. To accomplish this, acontrolled product feed apparatus is provided which conveyes tapedproducts into the taped products processor. The feed apparatus detachesthe attached components and forces them to a control station followingmovement of the preceding component from the control station. Adetection means for sensing an interrupted path is employed as the meansfor controlling the feed of the taped components. Thus, taped componentsare provided only when the operator has completed the previousoperation.

A drive having multiple drive couplings is also provided for receivingthe work provided at the control station and conveying it at a fixedrate through a processing zone. The drive mechanism has the capacity forconveying a number of assembled components at the same time at the fixedrate through the processing zone while allowing the operator to releaseeach succeeding assembled component from the control station only whenwork at that station has been completed. The drive includes a frictioncoupling and a positive coupling along with retractable stops toaccomplish the various process requirements.

A conditioned atmosphere process apparatus is also provided inassociation with the product path through which the assembled componentspass following discharge from the control station. In the presentembodiment, a heating unit is disclosed. However, cooling, coating andchemical treating may also be accomplished by this apparatus. Theconditioned atmosphere process apparatus incorporates a forced inputdirected to an inlet to the processing area. The inlet and a baffleassociated with the apparatus act to provide coverable of all sides ofthe assembled component passing through the controlled atmosphere area.An outlet from the process area is positioned to scavenge the atmospherefor remote disposal. A vacuum means is employed to exhaust theconditioned atmosphere. This vacuum means has a greater flow ratecapacity than of the conditioned atmosphere source to prevent excessiveescape of the controlled atmosphere from the processing area.

Thus, a mechanism for handling taped products without manualmanipulation is disclosed. Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide such a taped products processor. Other and furtherobjects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the present invention with portions cutaway for clarity.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the present inventionillustrating the drive mechanism and conditioned atmosphere processapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional front elevation of the present inventiontaken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional side elevation taken along line4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross-sectional side elevation taken along line5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional side elevation taken along line6--6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation as seen in FIG. 5 with a lockingmechanism engaged.

FIG. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional elevation showing the clampingmeans of the drive mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a detailed front elevation in cross section of a sleeveassembled with a terminal at the control station.

FIG. 10 is a detail similar to that of FIG. 8 with the jaws of the drivemechanism partially closed.

FIG. 11 is a detailed cross-sectional elevation as in FIG. 10 with thejaws further closed.

FIG. 12 is a detailed cross-sectional elevation showing the closed jawspassing through the process area.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the jaws exiting from theprocess area.

FIG. 14 is a detailed cross-sectional side elevation of the jaws beingreleased.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning in detail to the drawings, the taped products processor is builton a base comprising two parallel side walls 10 and 12 as shownpartially broken away in FIG. 1 and in cross section in FIG. 3. A bottomplate 14 extends across the underside of the apparatus between sidewalls 10 and 12. A mounting plate 16 also extends between the parallelside walls 10 and 12 as does an upper plate 18.

Looking to the controlled product feed apparatus, a tape 20 to whichproducts or components are adhered is shown being fed into the upperportion of the tape products processor. In the present example, thecomponents are heat recoverable sleeves 22 which are placed by contactadhesive on the tape 20. Naturally, a wide variety of products orcomponents may be fed into the present mechanism as would be obvious toone skilled in the art. The empty tape exiting from the apparatus thenpasses in tension across a capstan 24 to be wound around a reel 26. Thecapstan 24 is driven by an electric motor 28 through a direct drive. Themotor 28 is fixed to the upper plate 18 with the capstan 24 extendingabove the upper plate 18.

The reel 26 is rotatably mounted to the upper plate 18 about a shaft 30which is rotatably held within a bearing 32. The reel 26 is driven bythe capstan motor 28 through an elastic belt 34. The capstan motor 28 iscontrolled as will be more fully set forth below.

Turning then to FIG. 4, the path of the tape 20 into the tape productsprocessor is more fully illustrated. The tape 20 extends with thesleeves 22 along a plate 36 to a roller 38. The roller 38 is of arelatively small diameter such that a sharp turn is required of the tape20. The movement of the tape 20 over the roller 38 causes the sleeve 22on the tape to become separated therefrom. The tape 20 then extends upthe underside of the plate 36 and about a roller 40. It is then twistedand pulled past the capstan 24 as previously discussed. A work path intothe tape products processor is defined by the plate 36 and a firstmember having a passageway therethrough. The first member, generallydesignated 42, is defined by two parallel guide plates 44 and 46 as canbe seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The guide plates 44 and 46 are held to thebase by means of a mounting plate 48. The plate 36 over which the tape20 passes also extends between the guide plates 44 and 46. Both guideplates 44 and 46 include flanges 50 and 52 extending inwardly toward oneanother to keep the sleeves 22 in the work path defined therebetween. Atone end of the guide plate 46, a tapered channel 54 extendstherethrough. A semi-circular channel 56 extends across the guide plate44 in alignment with the tapered channel 54. The tapered channel 54 andthe semi-circular channel 56 in part define the control station whereinthe sleeve 22 from the tape 20 is first operated upon.

A second member 58 cooperating with said first member 42 operates todefine the remaining portion of the control station. The second member58 is pivotally mounted for selective separation from said first member42. A shaft 60 extends across the base between the parallel side walls10 and 12. A cam follower arm 62 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 60. Acarrier arm 64 is also rotatably mounted about the shaft 60 and isassociated with the cam follower arm 62 by means of a screw adjustmentmechanism including a set screw 66 and a bias spring 68. Thus, thecarrier arm 64 is caused to pivot with the cam follower arm 62. In turnthe second member 58 is fixed to the carrier arm 64 such that it toorotates about the shaft 60.

At the other end of the cam follower arm 62, a spring 74 extends betweenthe cam follower arm 62 and the upper plate 18 to bias the second member58 up against the first member 42. To overcome the bias of spring 74, acam follower 70 is associated with a cam for actuation of the carrierarm. The cam follower 70 is mounted to the cam follower arm 62 by meansof a shaft 72. The arrangement of the cam follower arm and carrier armlong with the attendant mechanisms can best be seen in FIG. 4.

Returning to the second member 58, a first portion thereof extendsupwardly to a surface substantially in a plane with the plate 36 onwhich the tape 20 is conveyed. This surface 76 thus defines acontinuation of the work path defined by the first member 42 and theplate 36. As the tape 20 is drawn about the roller 38 before the surface76, the sleeves 22 move on to the surface 76 ahead of the succeedingsleeves.

The second member 58, as can best be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 10 furtherdefines the control station by providing an upwardly extending portionforming a stop 78 for the progressing sleeve 22. The stop may be rotatedfrom the path of the sleeve 22 as can best be seen in FIG. 10 throughpivotal motion of the second member 58 about the shaft 60. The secondmember 58 also includes a tapered channel 80 which cooperates with thetapered channel 54 of the first member to define a conical entry way tothe control station. A semicircular channel 82 is defined on the otherside of the work path by the second member 58 to cooperate with thesemi-circular channel 56. Thus, sleeves 22 may be fed down the work pathon the tape 20 to a position at the control station defined by the firstmember 42 and the second member 58. The second member 58 may then bepivoted for selective separation such that the sleeve 22 may proceedfrom the control station. To actuate the pivoting of the second member58 to separate it from the first member 42, a solenoid 84, as best seenin FIG. 2, is activated electrically by an operator. The solenoidincludes a rod 86 which is drawn downwardly upon activation. A pivotallymounted retainer 88 is drawn away from a ratchet wheel 90 by the rod 86.The ratchet 90 is part of a clutch mechanism which is in turn associatedwith an electric motor 92. The motor 92 is running throughout theoperation of the tape products processor and as the ratchet wheel 90 isreleased, the clutch causes the motor 92 to engage a cam 94. The camfollower 70, discussed above, is controlled by the cam 94. Thus, whenthe solenoid 84 is activated by an operator of the apparatus, the camrotates and the second member 58 is caused to pivot away from the firstmember 42.

The cam 94 has a series of raised teeth-like members 96 which act topivot the second member 58 from the rest position. Once the solenoid 84is released, the retainer 88 drops against the ratchet wheel 90 suchthat only one raised tooth-like member 96 will be experienced during onecycle of operation. As the cam 94 reaches the end of the raisedtooth-like member 96, the retainer 88 disengages the clutch through theratchet wheel 90. At this point, the second member 58 is againpositioned adjacent the first member 42 for receipt of a succeedingsleeve 22.

To cause advancement of the tape 20 once the sleeve 22 is released fromthe control station by the operation of the second member 58, adetection means for sensing the readiness of the control station foranother component is employed. This detection means employs a pathextending from the first member 42 to the second member 58 across thecontrol station. An interruption in this path can be detected by thesensing system. In this embodiment, a pneumatic sensing system isemployed. An air passageway 98 extends through the second member 58 to anozzle 100. The nozzle 100 is directed at an orifice 102. The distancebetween the nozzle 100 and the orifice 102 constitutes the sensing path.Compressed air is supplied to the air passageway 98 along tubing 104.This compressed air is released at the nozzle 100 where it is directedto the orifice 102. A second air passageway 106 extends through theguide plate 44. The pressurized air received by the orifice 102 is thendirected through tubing 108 to a standard pressure switch (not shown).The pressure switch activates the capstan motor 28 which causes the tape20 to be advanced.

The sensing path between the nozzle 100 and the orifice 102 is closedonly when a sleeve 22 is not positioned in the control station and thesecond member 58 is closed against the first member 42. The switch istherefore open except when the control station is empty and the secondmember 58 is closed and ready to receive the next sleeve 22. Thesequence of operation following the operator's activation of thesolenoid 84 is that the second member 58 is opened to allow removal ofthe leading sleeve 22. Once the sleeve is removed and the cam 94 comesto rest with the second member 58 again against the first member 42, thesensing path is closed and the capstan motor 28 is activated. When asleeve 22 again enters the control station because of the movement ofthe tape 20, the capstan motor 28 is shut off.

The tape products processor of the present invention incorporates adrive which provides both a friction coupling and a positive coupling towork carriers which move each sleeve 22 from the control station throughan atmosphere processing zone. Looking first to the work carriers,generally designated 110, six are illustrated in the present embodiment.Each work carrier includes a body 112 from which two legs 114 and 116extend to a shaft 118. The legs 114 and 116 are rotatably mountedrelative to the shaft 118 and hence allow each work carrier to move fullcircle about the shaft 118. Extending upwardly from the body 112 are twojaw holders 120 and 122. Bars 124 and 126 also extend upwardly to aidthe jaw holders 120 and 122, respectively. Jaws 128 and 130 arepivotally mounted on pins 132 and 134 between the jaw holders 120 and122 and the bars 124 and 126. The jaws 128 and 130 include resilientgripping members 136 and 138. The jaws may be opened as can best be seenin FIG. 4 or closed as can best be seen in FIG. 11. When closed, thegripping members 136 and 138 cooperate to hold an assembled producttherebetween.

To limit opening of the jaws and bias the jaws toward a closed position,a pin 140 extends through each jaw 128 and 130 of each work carrier 110.Snap rings 142 and 144 are placed at either end of the pin 140 behindbias springs 146 and 148. The bias springs 146 and 148 extend inwardlyfrom the snap rings 142 and 144 to force against the jaws 128 and 130 tobias the jaws toward a closed position.

To open the jaws, a rectangular dog 150 is positioned between the jaws128 and 130. Each rectangular dog 150 is pivotally mounted to a jawholder 120 and 122 by means of posts 152. When the rectangular dog 150is disposed with its narrower dimension extending between the jaws 128and 130, the laws are closed as can be seen in FIG. 11. When therectangular dog 150 is disposed with its longer dimension extendingbetween the jaws 128 and 130, the jaws are held open.

To actuate the rectangular dogs 150, cam means are provided at specificpoints around the path of the work carriers 110 for selectively openingand closing the jaws. As each work carrier 110 approaches the controlstation, the jaws are in an open position. This position is best seen inFIG. 8. It is also advantageous to close the jaws at the control stationwhen a conductor 154 is positioned therein, as can best be seen in FIG.9. Therefore, laterally extending lugs 156 are provided on the side ofthe second member 58. A follower 158 is provided with each rectangulardog 150 and is fixed to rotate therewith such that the laterallyextending lugs 156 may engage the follower 158 to rotate the rectangulardogs 150 into the closed jaw position. When the leading work carrier 110is positioned at the control station, pivoting of the second member 58will cause such an interference between the lugs 156 and the follower158. This action can best be seen sequentially in FIGS. 10 and 11.Therefore, as the second member 58 is moved downwardly, the jaws 128 and130 close on the conductor 154. At the same time, the sleeve 22 isreleased so that the work carrier 110 make carry the assembled productfrom the control station.

To again open the jaws 128 and 130, another cam means is provided at themost convenient release point for the assembled product. An arm 160extends outwardly to the preselected release point for engagement withthe follower 158. The arm 160 includes an outwardly extending bar 162for interception of the follower 158. As can be seen in FIGS. 13 and 14,the bar 162 engages and rotates the follower 158 which in turn rotatesthe rectangular dogs 150 to open the jaws 128 and 130. As can be seen inFIG. 14, the opening of the jaws 128 and 130 allows the completedproduct to drop from the mechanism.

To drive the work carriers 110, a drive is provided. The drive power isdirected from the motor 92 through a gear box 164 to a tooth belt drive166. The tooth belt drive 166 drives the shaft 118 through gear wheel168. The shaft 118 extends between the parallel side walls 10 and 12 ofthe base and is rotatably mounted therein. The gear wheel 168 is fixedto rotate with the shaft to provide power thereto. Also fixed on theshaft is a wheel 170 having a friction drive peripheral surface, i.e.,the peripheral surface of the wheel 170 is substantially circularwithout major discontinuities. The work carriers 110 each are capable ofbeing driven by the wheel 170 through a friction follower 172 extendingto the wheel 170. Each friction follower 172 engages the wheel 170 andthe corresponding work carrier 110 is caused to rotate therewith if nosubstantial obstructions are encountered. If passage of the work carrier110 is obstructed, the friction follower 172 will slip on the wheel 170unless otherwise driven.

To provide a positive drive to the work carriers 110, a second wheel 174fixed to the shaft 118 is provided which has a positive drive peripheralsurface. In the present embodiment, the wheel 174 includes a ratchetperipheral surface. To engage the ratchet wheel 174, a pivotally mountedpawl 176 is provided on the jaw holder 120. A bracket 178, as best seenin FIG. 6, retains the pawl 176 in place about its pivotal mount 180. Aspring 182 is also positioned about the pivotal mount 180 to bias thepawl 176 away from the bracket 178. The pawl naturally includes a tooth184 for engaging the ratchet wheel 174.

As positive engagement of the work carriers by the drive mechanism isundesirable in certain portions of the path of the travel of the workcarriers, a selective engagement mechanism is employed to retain thepawls 176 away from the ratchet wheel 174. This mechanism includes a cam186 which cooperates with followers 188 located on each of the pawls176. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the cam 186 has retracted the pawls 176from the ratchet wheel 174. Around the remainder of the path of travel,up to the inclined cam surface 190, the pawls 176 are engaged with theratchet wheel 174.

The transition from positive drive to friction drive at the inclined camsurface 190 is in an area where the specific location of the workcarriers 110 is not critical. However, the transition from the frictiondrive to the positive drive at the control station is relatively moreimportant. Substantial torque may be required to drive the work carrier110 from the control station with the assembled product. Consequently, aretractable cam segment 192, as best seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, isprovided to release the pawl 176 such that it may engage the rotatingratchet wheel 174. In this way, transition from friction drive topositive drive is immediate where needed. The retractable cam segment192 is positioned on an extended arm 194 which is pivotally mountedabout the shaft 60. The extended arm 194 is positioned within a milledout cavity 196 in the side wall 10. A spring 198 biases the extended arm194 and in turn the retractable cam segment 192 in the up position. Whenthe carrier arm 64 is actuated by the cam 94, a pin 200 engages theextended arm 194. This engagement of the pin 200 with the extended arm194 is adjusted such that the pawl 176 will not engage the ratchet wheel174 until the second member 58 is substantially open for passage of asleeve 22 from the control station.

To follow the sequence of the drive through one revolution of the workcarrier 110, positive drive is provided as the retractable cam segment192 is lowered. The work carrier 110 then progresses under positivedrive through the process area at a predetermined fixed speed. Thisspeed is insured because of the positive operation of the drive. Thepositive drive also carries the work carrier 110 across the bar 162which again opens the jaws 128 and 130. Once having passed the bar 162,the positive drive is disengaged by means of the cam 186 at the inclinedcam surface 190. The friction drive continues until the work carrier 110abuts against the next adjacent work carrier. The several work carriers110 then advance as each one is loaded and released by the second member58. Thus, the friction drive conceys each work carrier 110 up to thecontrol station. To prevent the friction drive from conveying each workcarrier 110 past the control station, small stops 202 and 204 areprovided on the second member 58. These stops 202 and 204 interfere withthe path of travel of the posts 152 associated with each work carrier110. This interference by the stops 202 and 204 can be best seen in FIG.3. When the second member 58 is lowered, the stops 202 and 204 move fromthe path of the work carrier 110 simultaneously, the positive drive isengaged and the work carrier 110 proceeds on a second cycle.

A processing zone is disposed in the path of travel of the work carriers110 following the control station. The processing zone provides aconditioned atmosphere for processing of the assembled products. In thepresent embodiment, a heater is provided to heat recover the sleeves 22about the conductor 154 and the terminals shown to be positionedthereon. Thus, the conditioned atmosphere disclosed in the presentembodiment is one of heat. However, other atmospheres for cooling,coating, and chemically treating assembled products may also beemployed.

The conditioned atmosphere processing apparatus includes a manifold,generally designated 206. The manifold has a first inlet 208 to theprocessing zone and a first outlet 210. Compressed air is delivered tothe manifold through tubing 212. The compressed air then passes througha first passageway 214 in route to the first inlet 208. The firstpassageway 214 includes, in the present embodiment, a heating element216 to heat the incoming compressed air. At the first inlet 208 to thetreatment zone, to vanes 218 and 220 are positioned to direct flowdirectly outwardly from the manifold 206. A portion of the air is alsodirected upwardly. In this way, a sleeve passing through the processingzone will experience impinging hot air on its entire surface. To aid inproperly processing the assembly passing through the processing zone, aconcaved baffle 222 is positioned at a distance from the manifold 206.Between the baffle 222 and the manifold 206 a product path is definedwhich is followed by the work carriers 110. The baffle 222 reboundsheated air to further help to heat the far side of the sleeves passingalong the product path. The outlet 210 from the processing zone islocated above and spaced from the inlet 208. The air coming from theinlet 208 therefore has a chance to heat the sleeve passing therethroughand and then pass through the outlet 210 back into the manifold. Theoutlet extends to a second passageway 224 surrounding the firstpassageway 214 to an exhaust fan 226. The exhaust fan 226 is driven byan electric motor 228 which has a flow rate capacity that is greaterthan the flow rate capacity of the incoming air. Therefore, the exhaustfan 226 is able to draw both the conditioned atmosphere and ambient airfrom around the baffle 222 into the outlet 210. The exhausted air isthen carried away through duct 230.

To protect the operator from a burn, a shield 232 is provided around thebaffle 222 and spaced therefrom. Thus, accidental burns are less likely.

Thus, the entire system, apparatus and operation of the taped productsprocessor has been set forth. To summarize the operation, products 22positioned on a tape 20 are fed individually to a control station.Feeding is by means of a capstan 24 which pulls the tape 20 from theunit. The capstan 24 is activated by an air sensing system at thecontrol station. A drive having both positive and friction couplings isprovided to convey the assembled products through a conditionedatmosphere processing zone where the assembled product is heated orotherwise processed from all sides. The entire operation is activated bymeans of an input to a solenoid which causes the second member 58forming the control station to drop and release the assembled product.In the present embodiment, a heat recoverable sleeve 22 is employed anda conductor having a terminal 234 is positioned through the sleeve. Theconductor 154 is clamped by the jaws 128 and 130. To preventoverplacement of the conductor 154, a plate 236 is fixed to side wall10. Once clamped, the assembled product is conveyed through the heatingstep where the heat is recovered to a final state such as shown in FIG.15.

While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that manymore modifications are possible without departing from the inventiveconcepts herein described. The invention, therefore, is not to berestricted except by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A controlled product feed apparatus comprisingafirst member and second member defining a control station wherein workmay be positioned, said second member including a stop to hold the workin said control station and being pivotally mounted for selectiveseparation from said first member to allow the work to pass from saidcontrol station; feed means including a work feed path extending to saidcontrol station and means for advancing work along said feed means tosaid control station; and detection means for sensing an interruptedpath extending from said first member to said second member across saidcontrol station such that work in said control station will interruptsaid path and said separation of said second member from said firstmember will interrupt said path, said detection means being associatedwith means for advancing work to activate said means for advancing workwhen said path is uninterrupted, said detection means for sensing aninterrupted path including a nozzle, a source of pressurized air, anorifice, and a pressure activated switch, said nozzle is in one of saidfirst and second members and said orifice is in the other of said firstand second members.
 2. The controlled product feed apparatus of claim 1wherein said means for advancing work along said feed means is activatedby said pressure switch.